Malcolm McDonald and Louis John Westaway were merchants and operated the "McDonald & Westaway" country store in Georgetown as early as 1863. Their receipts stated they sold British and foreign merchandise as well as country produce. In addition to their store, McDonald and Westaway were ship owners as well as shipbuilders. By 1876, the McDonald and Westaway business was worth $50,000 - $100,000 and had obtained "high credit' in the Mercantile Agency Reference Book.

Malcolm McDonald (1834-1902) married Grace Snelgrove (1843-1913) of Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island on the 30 September 1872, and they had at least two children, Annie (1874-?) and Harold (1876-?). Louis John Westaway (1821-1885), was the third child of Roger Dart (1783-1875) and Damarius Watts (Saunders) Westaway (1792-1848). Louis John's wife, Ann, born in Glasgow Scotland, died on the 23 February 1878. They had no children.